Pressure mounts on prison boss after horror incidents in Victorian jails

Prison officers will vote on a no-confidence motion against the boss of Corrections Victoria as they claim safety fears — including a string of alleged assaults against staff — have fallen on deaf ears.

Prison officers will vote on a no-confidence motion against Corrections Victoria Commissioner Larissa Strong following alleged assaults against staff and carbon monoxide poisonings at a maximum security facility.

Victoria’s prison system has endured a series of horror incidents in recent weeks with prison officers claiming their safety concerns have largely fallen on deaf ears.

It comes after the Herald Sun revealed a former youth corrections officer won an undisclosed payout with the Department of Justice and Community Safety over incidents he endured while at Parkville Youth Justice Centre.

Michael Parker, 29, shared gruesome detail of brutal assaults during his tenure at the facility, including an incident where his knee was dislocated while trying to break up a fight between inmates in a security “black spot” at the facility.

Prison officers will vote on a no-confidence motion against Corrections Victoria Commissioner Larissa Strong. Picture: Alison Wynd

Victoria’s prison system has endured a series of horror incidents in recent weeks with prison officers claiming their safety concerns have largely fallen on deaf ears. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Mr Parker called on the state government to do more to safeguard prison staff as more inmates are expected to occupy Victorian prisons with the tightening of bail laws.

Mr Parker is not alone, back in March two maximum security prison officers were allegedly assaulted at the hands of Comanchero bikie Richard Ene in Metropolitan Remand Centre at Ravenhall.

Insiders at the time described the incidents as one of the worst examples of jailhouse violence seen in Victoria in recent memory.

Both officers were left unconscious after an allegedly unprovoked attack in the Exford management unit at MRC on March 15.

Ene was charged with assaulting a custodial officer on duty and will next face court over the matter on June 18.

Two maximum security prison officers were allegedly assaulted at the hands of Comanchero bikie Richard Ene in Metropolitan Remand Centre at Ravenhall. Picture: Mark Steward

emergency services were called to Barwon Prison on multiple occasions following reports of a gas leak. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Weeks after the attack, emergency services were called to Barwon Prison on multiple occasions following reports of a gas leak detected within the high security Olearia unit.

The suspected monoxide poisonings occurred twice in the space of one week, with three staff members hospitalised on April 3 and inmates moved to other facilities while the source of the leak was identified.

In her role as commissioner of Corrections Victoria, which she has held for the past four years, Ms Strong has served as the executive officer of the Department of Justice, overseeing the state’s prison system.

Mounting frustration among prison officers has reached boiling point according to the Victorian branch of the Community and Public Sector Union, who confirmed with the Herald Sun a vote of no confidence would be floated as early as next week.

Prison officers will have the opportunity to vote on their faith in Ms Strong following their morning parade, with a petition to be handed out site-by-site.

Approximately 3000 prison officers are associated with the CPSU and many of these members will likely take part in the vote.

A CPSU spokesman says frustrations with the Corrections Victoria senior management have been building over the past six months. Picture: David Caird

A CPSU spokesman said frustrations with the Corrections Victoria senior management had been building over the past six months.

“Officers feel their safety concerns are being ignored and they’re being treated second behind the needs of inmates,” the spokesman said.

“We have been saying ‘let’s work with Larissa (Strong) to get solutions to these issues in place’ but the push is getting louder.”

He added if these concerns were raised in any other worksite, it would be commonplace to try and address claims of safety issues quickly.

The state government was contacted for comment regarding the vote of no confidence.

In light of criticism from the union regarding Ms Strong, a Department of Justice and Community Safety spokesperson was keen to highlight that the CPSU will be conducting their own union elections in coming months.

Between June and July this year, the CPSU will carry out internal elections, with a union spokesman saying there was “overwhelming” support for state secretary Karen Batt ahead of the elections.

This is despite some strong opposition to Ms Batt circulating on social media forums, with some members calling for new leadership within the union.

A Victorian government spokesperson said all workers including those in the corrections system deserved a safe workplace and any violence was taken seriously and referred to police.

“We have more than enough capacity across the prison system to take on an increase in prisoner numbers following our tough new bail laws, including at our brand new Western Plains facility which is due to open soon,” they said.

“It’s our expectation that Corrections Victoria works closely with staff to hear and address their concerns.”

Originally published as Pressure mounts on prison boss after horror incidents in Victorian jails